Japan textile labelling: fibre composition, JIS L 0001 care symbols and labeler

What a Japanese textile label must show

Composition is shown with the designated fibre names, either as percentages for the whole product or separately for each part, as long as the parts are clearly marked. Leather or synthetic leather parts are described with a material term such as cowhide or synthetic leather. When one fibre exceeds 80%, the label may say "xx% or more", fibres under 10% may be grouped, and products such as bras, socks and gloves, or products with four or more fibres of at least 5% each, may simply list the fibres.

Care instructions use the JIS L 0001 symbols, revised as JIS L 0001:2024 in August 2024, printed directly on the product or on a label such as a sewn-in label that is easy to find and firmly attached. The five basic symbols are shown in order: washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and commercial cleaning; if a basic symbol is left out, all treatments it covers are considered possible. The labeler's name or business name and address or phone number must appear next to the labelled information, and on each label if composition and care are shown separately.

Designated fibre names that trip up exporters

• Spandex is not a designated term: use ポリウレタン (polyurethane)
• Organic cotton is shown as 綿, コットン or COTTON
• Recycled PET is shown as ポリエステル (polyester)
• Corn-based PLA is shown as ポリ乳酸 (polylactic acid)
• The acrylic-family term is now モダクリル (modacrylic)
• Leather parts: a material term such as 牛革 (cowhide), 羊革 (sheepskin) or 合成皮革 (synthetic leather)

Tolerances, claims and imported goods

Declared percentages may differ from the actual blend only within set tolerances: ±5% for values in multiples of 5 (other than 100%), ±4% for other values (±5% for blends with wool or down), and for "100%" a minus tolerance of 3% for wool and 1% for other fibres. Words such as water-repellent, or calling a product a raincoat that needs water repellency, may be used only if the outer fabric passes JIS L 1092 testing, and the label must say so if washing reduces the effect.

For imported apparel, leaving only the foreign composition or care labels may count as improper labelling. The importer or seller can stick JIS-based care labels over the foreign symbols or attach separate labels, making clear who the labeler is. Whoever dyes, prints or otherwise changes a product so that its quality or care changes becomes the labeler of the new label.